Power driven endless belt type cleansing machine

ABSTRACT

A MOTOR DRIVEN CLEANSING MACHINE HAVING AN ENDLESS BELT DRIVEN OVER A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS. ONE ROLLER FORMS THE FRONT EDGE OF A BELT-SUPPORTING MEMBER, BETWEEN TWO CONVERGING BELT-SUPPORTING SIDES, WHICH IS PIVOTABLY MOUNTED IN A FRAME. THE PIVOT AXIS IS PARALLEL WITH THE AXES OF THE ROLLERS. THE BELT-SUPPORTING MEMBER IS HELD IN A NEUTRAL POSITION BY THE TENSION OF THE BELT BUT IS PIVOTABLE IN EITHER DIRECTION WHEN THE FRONT EDGE OF THE BEL-SUPPORTING MEMBER IS PRESSED AGAINST A SURFACE TO BE CLEANSED.

Nov..30, 1971 A. KURZ 3,623,118

POWER DRIVEN ENDLESS BELT TYPE CLEANSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheot 1 INVI'IN'H )RI AUGUST KURZ ATTORNEY A. KURZ 3,623,178

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IN Vl'iN'H )R I AUGUST KURZ W M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,623,178 POWER DRIVEN ENDLESS BELT TYPE CLEANSING MACHINE August Kurz, 1 Fruhlingstrasse, D-7321 Waschenheuren,

Germany Filed Oct. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 866,590 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 17, 1968, P 18 03 568.2 Int. Cl. A47] N04 US. CI. -99 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motor driven cleansing machine having an endless belt driven over a plurality of rollers. One roller forms the front edge of a belt-supporting member, between two converging belt-supporting sides, which is pivotably mounted in a frame. The pivot axis is parallel with the axes of the rollers. The belt-supporting member is held in a neutral position by the tension of the belt but is pivotable in either direction when the front edge of the belt-supporting member is pressed against a surface to be cleansed.

This invention relates to a power driven endless belt type apparatus for cleaning substantially plane surfaces.

More specifically, this invention relates to a machine that is useful in cleansing window panes 0r floors, and which is relatively light in weight so as to be easily handled.

More particularly, the invention relates to machines which comprise a number of rotatably mounted rollers, and an endless belt trained over said rollers, and including a first roller for bringing the belt into contact with the surface to be cleansed.

Conventional machines of this general type are excessively heavy and relatively complicated and expensive. A further disadvantage of conventional cleansing machines is that the effective zone of the belt is a plane, limited at each end by a belt supporting roller. Thus, it is not possible to cleanse planar corners and edges such as those of a window frame. Even if the periphery of a single roller is used as effective cleansing zone of the belt, corners or edges cannot be sulficiently cleaned since the conventional machines have rollers of relatively large diameters. Furthermore, the bulky structure of the conventional machine makes it impossible to move the machine completely into corners to be cleansed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a power driven endless belt type cleansing apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of conventional cleansing machines which have been heretofore produced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleansing apparatus wherein the effective cleaning comprises a planar area disposed over a relatively acuteangled edge.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cleansing apparatus designed so that the relatively acuteangled edge can be swung out from its neutral position, in both directions.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose an embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a cleansing machine embodying the invention;

3,623,178 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the machine of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional front elevation view of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. l-3, there is shown the machine for cleansing planar surfaces comprising an endless belt 1 of a fabric, laminated with a suitable absorbent, fibrous material. This belt is trained over rollers 2 and 3, and a belt-supporting member 4 of triangular cross section. A roller 5 of small diameter is rotatably mounted at the outer end of belt-supporting member 4. Roller 2 is a hollow, sleeve-like form, and a motor is arranged within roller '2. Assuming a drawing scale of 1:1 for roller 2, the roller will rotate about 400 rpm.

Roller 3 and belt-supporting member 4 are mounted in bearing plates 7. Roller bearings 8 are seated on studs 10 projecting from hearing plates 7, and the outer races of roller bearings 8 are seated in front plates 9 or roller 3. Belt-supporting member 4 is secured to hearing plates 7 by screws 12.

The whole unit comprising roller 3, belt-supporting member 4, and bearing plates 7 is pivotably mounted on trunnions 6 which are secured to a slide 14. Slide 14 is provided with rims 16 which slidably engage linear guide slots 18, provided in a frame 20. By adjusting the position of slide 14 in guide slots 18, the distance between roller 2 and roller 3 may be altered, so as to adjust the tension of belt 1.

Knurled discs 24 are secured to threaded bolts 22 journalled in frame 20. Bolts 22 also engage correspondingly threaded holes in slide 14 with their threaded end portions as viewed in FIG. 3. Biased by a spring 32 which extends between slide 14 and a shaft 28, the lower ends of bolts 22 rest on eccentric cams 26 which are secured to shaft 28 for rotation therewith. Shaft 28 is also rotatably mounted in frame 20. One end of shaft 28 is provided with a slot 30, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that shaft 28 and eccentric cams 26 may be rotated by an external suitable tool engaging slot 30. Thus, it is possible to quickly change the tension of belt 1, which is an advantage during its cleaning, renewing, or exchanging. A fine adjustment of the tension of belt 1 can be obtained by rotating the knurled discs 24.

Roller 2 is mounted on the driving motor by means of ball bearings 34. A threaded collar 36 of the driving motor is fixedly secured to a threaded bushing 38 which in turn is secured to frame 20. The inner hollow space of roller 2 is sealed by a watertight packing 40.

Frame 20 and those parts supported by it and referred to above, form a unit which is easily connectable to a machine housing or casing 42. Casing 42 is provided with a handle 44, into which suitable extensions may be inserted.

The connection of casing 42 and the unit defined above is effected by means of catch levers 46, a nose of which is adapted to engage a projection on the outer surface of the casing. Catch levers 46 are easy to actuate in order to separate the above-mentioned unit from casing 42, e.g.-if belt 1 has to be cleaned or renewed.

A trough for a bath 48 is provided within casing 42 to permit belt 1 to pass through the bath when it is running. This trough may be filled with water, with or without a solvent, or with other suitable liquids.

In order to effectively cleanse the surface of belt 1, one or more brushes 50 are provided. Moreover, one or more press rollers 52 are also provided which serve to press the belt. The gaps between roller 2 and rollers 52 may be adjustable, so that the degree of moisture in belt 1 can be adjusted. Seals 54 and 56 are provided between belt 1 and roller 52, and casing 42.

To fill up the trough with bath 48, casing 42 is provided with an inlet closed by a filler cap 58. A connection cable 60 serves to connect the motor with the main power p ug.

During operation, the relatively acute-angled edge 62 of belt-supporting member 4, is provided with roller to prevent an excessive wear of belt 1, when the belt is pressed against a window pane. Roller 3 and belt-supporting member 4 are pivoted around trunnions 6, so that planar zone 64 of the belt engages the window pane to provide a good cleansing effect. The pivot axis is parallel with the axes of the rollers. Belt-supporting member 4 is held in a neutral position by the tension of the belt, but is pivotable in either direction when the front edge is pressed against the surface to be cleansed. By moving planar zone 64 across the window pane, the pane will be cleansed completely within a short period of time. Belt 1 also completely contacts edge 62 so that a good cleansing of corners and grooves can be effected.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A power driven cleansing apparatus for cleaning substantially planar surfaces, such as window panes, floors and the like, comprising;

a plurality of rotatably mounted rollers arranged parallel wtih respect to each other;

an endless belt disposed over said rollers, said rollers including a first roller to guide said endless belt into contact with the surface to be cleaned;

a substantially triangular-shaped belt-supporting memher having said first roller rotatably mounted at the outer edge thereof, said belt supporting member having converging belt supporting sides of substantially equal length in tangential alignment with respect to the periphery of said first roller;

a first frame for supporting said belt supporting member; and,

means for pivotably mounting said belt-supporting member in saidfirst frame along an axis parallel with respect to said rollers for permitting said supporting member to be pivoted in either direction, said supporting member being normally retained in its neutral position due to the tension of said belt.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising adjusting means disposed in said supporting member and coupled to said first roller to permit said first roller to be adjusted in a direction transverse with respect to the axis of said first roller.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 additionally comprising;

a second frame disposed adjacent with respect to said first frame,

slide means disposed in said second frame for slidably supporting said pivotable mounting means, and means coupled to said first roller for laterally adjusting the tension of said belt.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 additionally comprising;

a machine housing, and

means for detachably coupling said second frame to said housing. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said housing additionally comprises a trough surrounding said belt for containing a fluid for contact with said belt.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 additionally comprising at least one brush disposed in said housing for contact with said belt.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 additionally comprising at least one press roller disposed in said housing and urged against said belt for controlling the quantity of fluid deposited on said belt.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said belt adjusting means additionally comprises;

cam means coupled to said belt adjusting means and pivotably mounted in said second fname means, and,

at least one tool engaging slot connected to said cam means and externally accessible on said second frame means.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said housing additionally comprises a handle, and a connecting means disposed in the end of said handle for securing extensions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,391 9/1941 McDonell 15-99 2,260,949 10/1941 Mall 51-170 EB 3,052,905 9/1962 McMillan et al. l599 3,244,139 4/1966 Brown et a1 15103.5 X

LEON G. MACHLIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

